Crime Nearby: Man Robs Deer Park Business, Breaks into Business Owner's Home

Here are the latest arrests and incidents in neighborhoods surrounding Lindenhurst. 

Suffolk Police are asking for the public's help in tracking down a man who robbed a Deer Park business in December and then burglarized the business owner's home a week later.

Police said the owner of the business, who wasn't identified, was approached by two men who assaulted him, and stole cash and his driver’s license on December 12 around 8:30 p.m.

Nine days later, police said, one of the men forced their way into the North Bay Shore home of the business owner and demanded the occupants tell them the whereabouts of the business owner.

West Islip Man, Babylon Man among 17 Accused of Stealing Copper Wire from LIRR
An organized ring of 15 Long Island Rail Road employees and two others were indicted Friday, January 25, after conspiring to steal more than $250,000 worth of copper wire belonging to the LIRR, according to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.

Among those arrested was Kevin Graham, 29, of West Islip. He's charged with four counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, two counts of conspiracy in the fifth degree and four counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Also among those arrested was Jose Almonte, 31, of Babylon. He's charged with two counts each of conspiracy in the fourth and fifth degrees. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

The other men arrested were charged with various crimes including: conspiracy, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and theft of services.

A West Babylon man is under arrest after Suffolk County police found large quantities of hallucinogenic drugs and an illegal firearm at his home early Friday morning.

First Precinct detectives at the Suffolk County Police Department said Michael David, 23, was arrested at 12:30 a.m. on January 25 after a search warrant was executed.

Detectives allegedly found a large quantity of hallucinogenic mushrooms, marijuana and other drug paraphernalia at the residence, along with a .38 caliber handgun.

Suffolk County cops also seized a printer and other items used to forge New York State drivers licenses, which were typically printed and sold to underage people.

David is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree and criminal possession of forgery devices. 

West Babylon NYPD Cop's Partner Testifies in Court
The partner of New York City Police Officer Peter Figoski testified in court on Monday, January 28, recalling the events the night of the shooting that left the West Babylon father of four dead.

Detective Glenn Estrada, who then served as an officer with Figoski, told the court he'd chased one of the suspects from a reported house robbery and was returning to the original scene when he became worried about his partner, according to a report by Newsday, because he wasn't answering his cell phone.

When he returned to the scene, the EMS was already working on Figoski and rolled him to the ambulance.

"I helped get him into the ambulance, and I proceeded to go with him," Estrada said in New York State Supreme Court in Brooklyn at the trial of two of the men charged with killing the officer: Lamont Pride, 28, of North Carolina, and Michael Velez, 22, of Queens.

Figoski, 47, who'd been reportedly shot in the head, died later that evening at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

The trial began last week and is expected to continue for a while as more witnesses are brought in.

Gwaltney Family Issues Statement Following Arrest
The half-brother of Jason Gwaltney has issued a statement following the former North Babylon High School football star’s arrest earlier this week.

Gwaltney, currently living in Brentwood, was one of five men arrested on Tuesday, January 22, in connection with a burglary in Huntington. Arrested with Gwaltney was Jaquese Jones, 18, of Bay Shore; Nouvelle Lucas, 17, of Wyandanch; Demetrius Edwards, 19, of Wyandanch; and Tahjiea Carpenter, 17, of Huntington.

On his Twitter account, Scooter Berry, currently a member of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, said his family is concerned for the victims and for Gwaltney’s involvement in the incident.

Read the full statement here.

Judge G. Ann Spelman ordered Gwaltney held on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond at his arraignment on Wednesday, January 23, at First District Court in Central Islip, Newsday reported. Gwaltney pleaded not guilty.

Deer Park Man Arrested for Attempting CT Chimney Cleaning Scam
Three Long Island men - including Robert Houlahan, 45, of Deer Park and , were arrested by New Canaan police on Thursday, January 24, for allegedly attempting to perform a chimney cleaning work on a resident's home without a license, according to a statement released by Seargent Carol Ogrinc.

Read the full story here and here.

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